The antitrust lawsuit filed by 23Xi Racing and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR has finally gone to trial, and the legal battle has garnered significant attention. With high stakes for both parties, there is much to lose if things do not go their way.
However, if things go in the direction of the teams, it will potentially alter how NASCAR functions.
Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, the co-owners of 23XI Racing, were among the many prominent NASCAR personalities present in the courtroom when the trial commenced. The No. 11 driver was also one of the first few members to testify in court, and in his lengthy testimony, he did not hesitate to fire shots at NASCAR.
Denny Hamlin’s Emotional Testimony Against NASCAR
When Hamlin was asked to come forward to testify in court, the 44-year-old went all in with his words. Starting with how he decided to become a professional stock car driver, Hamlin said, “We got to when I was about 20 and a decision had to be made, I could keep racing or go out and work for my dad’s trailer business.”
Following this, he elaborated on how 23XI Racing came into being and how Jordan joined the business. During Jordan’s tenure as one of the owners of the Charlotte Hornets, Hamlin struck up a friendship with the NBA legend, which years later blossomed into a business partnership.
Hamlin also touched upon the business side of things in 23XI Racing and said, “If I can’t be successful with Michael as a partner, I knew this was never going to work.”
Hamlin On 23XI Racing’s Finances And The Reason Behind The Lawsuit
The Cup veteran also shed light on the team’s finances, revealing that 23XI Racing pays $8 million annually to its ally, Joe Gibbs Racing, for all of the team’s cars. Hamlin also noted that the team spent $35 million last year to build its Airspeed facility.
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According to Hamlin, the facility was built to drive more sponsorships for the team. However, with the trial underway, things looked fairly uncertain on that front. Along with Hamlin, Front Row Motorsports’ boss, Bob Jenkins, also revealed that the team remains unprofitable, despite being in the sport for over two decades.
In Hamlin’s testimony, which lasted over three hours, the No. 11 driver let his emotions get the better of him and broke down in the courtroom. He even fired shots at the NASCAR, where his angst towards it was on display.
Given what has been written in emails and text messages that the jury will see, they are definitely going to know that there is a lot of animosity between the parties regardless of witness demeanor. But it will be interesting to see how they react to visible animosity/anger from… https://t.co/WG6dDRKrc3
— Shannon McMinimee (@SMMcMinimee) December 2, 2025
When asked why he had chosen to file an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, he responded by openly stating that “it was time for a change” in the sport. In wrapping up his statement, Hamlin also emphasised that the documents shed light on the truth of the matter and were the ultimate proof.
While it remains to be seen how things proceed in the coming days of the trial, Hamlin’s statement has made it clear that no matter the cost, the teams are willing to go to great lengths to win the battle.